Colonel William A. Phillips

The Buena Vista Hotel was a historic hotel and entertainment center located in the downtown district of Safford, Arizona.^[2]

Built in 1928 at cost of $80,000,^[3] the 2-story, 46-room hotel was conceived by Fred and Minta Waughtal who previously owned and operated a cattle ranch in Dos Cabezas, as well as the nearby Olive Hotel, which later became the Safford Inn Hospital.^[4] The impetus for creating the Buena Vista was an anticipation of increased vehicular traffic upon the completion of the Coolidge Dam and a newly-paved highway from Globe to the Gila Valley.

When the Buena Vista Hotel opened on October 15, 1929, it was considered a luxurious retreat, where most of the rooms were adorned with commodious furnishings and private bathrooms. The hotel also featured an outdoor swimming pool and two bars; the Tap Room, and the Matador Room.^[5]

While the Tap Room was a traditional bar with a long, narrow dance floor for its patrons, the Matador Room was best known for its live performances, in particular, jazz and Country-western music. Many well-known and up-and-coming musicians appeared at the Matador Room over the years, such as Patsy Cline, Billy Walker, Lefty Frizzell, Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson and future Hee Haw star, Roy Clark.^[6]

The hotel closed after a resident set fire to the building on October 26, 1979, however, the restaurant and bar were salvaged and reopened as a gourmet restaurant named the Gaslight.^[7]

In 1987, the property was sold at an auction and remained dormant until the building was demolished in 1994,^[8] despite being listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[1]

Formerly located at 322 Main Street, the Buena Vista Hotel was a two-story, 80 feet (24 m) by 100 feet (30 m) steel frame and stucco structure with arched entrances, Spanish tile awnings and wrought iron balconies.^[3][9] Designed by Tucson's influential architect Henry O. Jaastad, the prominent hotel was considered to be one of the finest examples of Mission Revival architecture in Arizona.^[3][10]

The hotel can be seen briefly in the 1985 comedy, Lost in America, directed by and starring Albert Brooks.^[11]

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